Skip to main content

Enter God's Rest

Let me know your ways that I may know you, so that I may find favor in your sight. Consider too, that this nation is your people. And He said, “My presence shall go with you, and I will give you rest.1
To find favor in God we must know his ways. Here Moses is questioning God, How will I know that you are with me? We ask this question today, we know we are to put trust in God, leaning on his understanding to direct our ways, and that such will guide us, but how do we know we are on the correct path? the same question can be asked how do I know his will or purpose in my life? If we relate his ways to his will and his will to his presence in our lives then we can ask how do we know we are in his presence? “My presence shall go with you, and I will give you rest.” We shall know when we enter into his rest.

God had told Moses to lead his people into the promised land but he would not go with them, because they were stiff-necked people, lest he consume them.3 But Moses intercedes for the people, show me your ways so we will know how to please you, and if you are not with us how will we know we have found favor in your sight? Because Moses interceded God would go with them, Moses then asks God show me your glory. This word for glory is from kabad which means weight, it speaks of heavy honor, splendor, glory. Such is the nature of trust, we find God is honorable, trust worthy. Is not the question one of trust? Moses asks how will I know, trust you are faithful, you are with me.

“I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name ‘The LORD.’ And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy."4

Moses needed guidance. It is God's goodness that leads men to repentance Paul writes.5 Surely such has been truth in my own life. How can the people be obedient if they do not know your ways? We must know God's ways to be obedient to God, "let me know your ways so that I might do your ways and find favor in your sight." Trust is an essential element of our faith, it is doctrines of men, traditions, rules and regulations that destroy trust, they lead people away from the truth, about who God really is. False religion can exchange the truth for a lie but by faith we can know God, we learn that God is trust worthy, he is faithful, by faith God will show us his ways and his goodness will pass before us.

"And I will take away mine hand, and you shall see afterwards but my face shall not be seen."6

Moses's face shined with the glory of God, the covenant God gave Moses was as the glory he saw. I believe this "afterwards," that Moses saw speaks to the glory of the Mosaic covenant as Paul writes, it was a "shadow" of the glory to come. "Indeed, a shadow the law having of the coming good things, themselves the form of things..."7 God would show Moses a shadow of his glory and make a covenant with him, a shadow of the new covenant which would come in the glory of His Son, who came in the fullness of the Father, of His glory. So we see there is no veil.

“My presence shall go with you, and I will give you rest.”

To rest is to enter into the presence of God. Many of the Israelites failed to enter into his rest thus his presence. "Now we who have believed enter that rest..."9 So we see we enter his presence through rest, and we rest by faith. This rest is more than just entering into a physical rest, I can physically rest on the Sabbath day and fail to enter into His rest. We see teachings today that have entered the church that seek to put faith and trust in the authority of men, in organizations and governments, in traditions of men, such heresy at its core seeks to eliminate faith and trust in God thus his children do not enter into his rest. They are hostile to those who live by faith. We must be diligent at entering his rest and we can only enter by faith.

"Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience."10

We must strive, be swift, be of full diligence to enter in his rest. We enter into His rest by faith, so we must seek that food which doesn't perish. Without Jesus we can not enter that rest. Jesus is the Word, the author of faith, by the Word we abide, remain. Our transformation comes in abiding in the Word, the truth shall set you free through this process; it is abiding which leads to knowing or understanding, which gives freedom in Christ. 

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your paths... It shall be health to your body and marrow to your bones"12

Often we neglect faith for other less weightier matters, like the Pharisees who tithed 10% of even their herbs but Jesus said to them, "you have neglected the more weightier matters of the law--justice, mercy and faithfulness."13  Faith is the key to pleasing God thus the key to all blessings. The Pharisees place heavy burdens on the people, but God sent his Son to give rest and reprieve to his people. Justice and righteousness brings peace, mercy brings forgiveness, faith brings trust.

"let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the household of faith."14

The leaders put heavy heavy burdens on the backs of God's people, and they did not lift a finger to help, but Jesus came not to condemn but to save. He said the kingdom of God would be hidden from the wise and would be revealed to little children.16 Jesus gave a warning for men who would hurt these little children. Those who do not care for his household how can they minister to the world? Especially, God cares for his household, how can they enter rest if their physical burdens are not lifted? The Church is God's children, it is the household of God, the children please God by faith thus it is a household of faith. 

"Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth; For I am God, and there is no other."15

There is a rest we must enter, it is by faith, we turn, look upon Jesus who has been lifted up. One can not enter in this rest but by grace through faith... If I do not trust in his goodness, I will not boldly enter into his presence, where he sits on a throne of Grace. If we his people are not taught grace, his unmerited favor, his unconditional love for us, then we can not enter his rest because we will not trust that he loves us, that such is a free gift, we will toil for his favor or we will have the fear of punishment, we will be too fearful to enter his presence. God put his hand over Moses and as he passed he said, 

“the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin..." 

Moses asked to see the glory of God, this was the glory of God, merciful and gracious... forgiving. He would send his Son in his fullness, of Grace and Truth. To enter his glory, his presence, the people only needed to trust Him. Some of the people of Israel did not enter God's rest because of disobedience, but as Paul writes they did not have faith, because trust is essential to faith, thus their disobedience was mis-trust or unbelief.

When we do not trust we do not see the goodness of God, if we did we would enter his presence, into his rest. we would believe that he is trustworthy. It is a struggle we have today. When the people complained, God sent serpents to bite them. So the question is asked, was the serpents sent to punish them for disobedience or unbelief or was it to "help" them believe and trust in him? Surely the point was to teach them to enter into his rest, to trust him, as the serpent was lifted up, Christ has been lifted up for our trust. 

"Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life."17

I see the sign of the serpent very symbolic today, as today is the day of salvation. We are born into sin, bitten by poisonous snakes because of the sin of one man. The wage is death, the ultimate penalty for disobedience, for unbelief. But we see the ultimate solution to the problem is putting trust in the Son of God who was lifted up. He came not to condemn man but sin, that all who look upon him, believe, trust in him will be saved. It is a most glorious promise of the new covenant, not by works but by grace through faith we are saved... and we learn to abide, remain in his presence, rest in Him. By faith we enter into his rest, into his presence.

"come to me all those toiling and being burdened and I will give you rest."18

This word for rest is from aná, "by, in, through" which intensifies paúō, "I cause to cease, finish" – properly, to give (experience) rest; a primary verb ("pause"); to stop (transitively or intransitively), i.e. restrain, quit, desist, come to an end -- cease, leave, refrain. So we see "it is finished" by entering into that rest. However, it is not natural to do such a thing, we must "press" into this rest, it is a process "through" whereby we are completed. It is trusting in Jesus.

Look at the the young oxen yoked, restless, fighting the yoke... Jesus says rest, softly "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”19 Oh to enter God's rest, it is rest for the soul.

Eye of the Storm

Popular (last 30 days)

Blessed Are The Forgiven

Blessed! the one whose lawless deeds are forgiven and the one whose sins are covered over, blessed is the man whom sin, the Lord will not consider . * Paul writes David foresaw and spoke " blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered . *  Blessed, is the one whom sin is not considered, this word considered  means "to credit, count, reckon, to set down as a matter of account; regard, think, consider." This blessing comes through faith and according to grace, " also David speaks of the blessedness of the one to whom God considers righteousness apart from works ." *  The word for  lawless deeds speaks of the violation of the Law and the word for sin  speaks of missing the mark of God's righteousness. Blessed are those who (by faith in Christ according to grace) have been forgiven. In Him receiving the redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of trespasses according to the riches of His grace . * This fundamental ...
Read more

Spirit of Life

" Indeed, the law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus liberates from the law of sin and death ." 1 This word for liberates "I free, set free, liberate" is from a root word meaning free, exempt, not bound by an obligation. As partakers of God's divine nature, being born of Spirit, we are no longer obligated to the sinful nature but to righteousness which is God's nature. When we believe we receive the Spirit of promise, a guarantee of our inheritance, a great testimony that we are His children, it is a Spirit of Life. " Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life." 24 The Son came not to condemn the world but to save it. "One trespass   led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. " 6 " He was delivered over to death for our trespasses and wa...
Read more

All Who Are Thirsty

“ Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters;  and he who has no money,  come, buy and eat!  Come, buy wine and milk  without money and without price.  Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,  and your labor for that which does not satisfy?  Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good,  and delight yourselves in rich food. .." (Isaiah 55). " Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price ." Buy is defined as to acquire the ownership of by giving an accepted price or consideration therefore; to accept or believe as true .[ 1 ] When we buy something we consider the price that we must pay, we accept this and purchase the thing we have considered worthy of the sacrifice we make in payment. W e can not buy, with money or price, redemption from t his tragic flaw we are born into. However Jesus paid the price for us, so we buy or accept through consideration, the Greek word is  logizomai.[ 2] ...
Read more

The Tripartite Nature of Humanity: Spirit, Soul, and Body

The Tripartite Nature of Humanity: Spirit, Soul, and Body in Biblical Understanding The human being, as depicted in the Bible, is a multifaceted creation, often understood through the distinct yet interconnected components of spirit, soul, and body. While some theological perspectives lean towards a bipartite view (soul and body), which we do see in the Old Testament, a careful examination of the New Testament scripture reveals a compelling case for a tripartite understanding, where each is divided into or composed of three parts. Let’s explore the biblical distinction between spirit, soul, and body. The Body: Our Earthly Vessel The body is the physical form that interacts with the material world. From the very beginning, Genesis 2:7 states, " Then the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being ." This verse clearly establishes the body's origin from the earth, emphasizing its connec...
Read more

Lord, Stand By Me

"... present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness ." 1 This word for present means "I bring, present, come up to and stand by," it is parístēmi (from pará, "from close-beside" and hístēmi, "to stand") – properly, stand close beside, i.e. ready to present (exhibit). I pray Lord stand by me which expresses that I put my trust in Him, or I come up to and stand by Him. We use phrases like surrendering or bowing at the cross to explain such a moment, surely it is a coming to the end of ourselves and it is desirable that I find His will acceptable, but it is important to understand that it is about trust, not my will power, the key is that it is in Christ. The terminology the scriptures use is "present yourselves to God," or come up to and stand by and walk with Him. "... present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God--this...
Read more

Surrender and Giving Control in Christian Thought: Scriptural Roots, Modern Interpretations, and the Quest for Spiritual Maturity

Surrender and Giving Control in Christian Thought: Scriptural Roots, Modern Interpretations, and the Quest for Spiritual Maturity Introduction The theological concept of surrender—or giving control to God—occupies a prominent place in the modern Christian consciousness. From pulpits, in devotional material, songs, and across a multitude of Christian traditions, believers are often exhorted to “surrender their lives to Christ,” to “give up control." This is often expressed as a “come to the end of yourselves,” experience. These exhortations, frequently couched in emotive and urgent language, invite believers to a posture of yielding, releasing, and letting go. Yet, when this language is measured against the actual vocabulary, teachings, and emphases of the Greek New Testament, important questions emerge:  How biblically grounded are the concepts of “surrender” and “giving control”? Does such language reflect the spiritual vision of the earliest Christian church and scripture, or...
Read more

Freedom from the Mosaic Law: A Deep Theological Exploration of New Testament Teaching

  Freedom from the Mosaic Law: A Deep Theological Exploration of New Testament Teaching Introduction: The Question of the Mosaic Law and Christian Identity One of the most significant theological debates and practical challenges for the early church was the place of the Mosaic Law in the life of believers in Jesus Christ. This question remains alive today, particularly in communities and churches that quote the Old Testament as if its legal prescriptions still directly obligate Christians. The apostolic writings, especially those of Paul, provide the primary lens through which the New Testament resolves this matter. Paul’s letters—rich in both theological reflection and ecclesiastical urgency—not only confront false teaching but chart the path of new covenant living by the Holy Spirit.  This essay seeks to offer a doctrinal synthesis on why believers are no longer “under the Mosaic Law,” supported by original-language insights, harmonized scripture references, and commentar...
Read more

Theological Comparison of the New Covenant of Grace and the Old Covenant of the Law

Theological Comparison of the New Covenant of Grace and the Old Covenant of the Law: A Detailed Study Rooted in Ephesians 2:11–22 Introduction The theme of covenant is central to the biblical narrative, shaping God’s relationship with humanity from creation through redemption. The new covenant is called by Paul a ministry of reconciliation, righteousness, and of the Spirit. The shift from the old Mosaic covenant—rooted in the Law given to Israel at Sinai—to the new covenant of grace established in Christ, fundamentally redefines how people approach God, community, and salvation. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, particularly 2:11–22, provides a remarkably clear and rich theological exposition of this transition, addressing not only the spiritual implications for Jews and Gentiles but also the very nature of the church as God’s new creation. This report develops an in-depth, paragraph-driven theological comparison between the old and new covenants, structured around nine key themes de...
Read more

Called According to His Purpose: A Biblical Examination

  Called According to His Purpose: A Biblical Examination 📖 Introduction The phrase “called according to His purpose” appears in Romans 8:28 (ESV), a foundational verse that reads: “And we know that for those loved of God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.” This statement gives comfort and more—it is a declaration about identity, destiny, and divine intent. To be “called according to His purpose” means participating in God’s sovereign, redemptive plan. God's plan is being manifested through the church through the "new covenant in his blood" as it was established by the death of Jesus. The calling is not arbitrary or based on human merit, but is rooted in God’s purpose, eternal will and love. 🔍 The Nature of the Calling In Scripture, God's calling is effectual—that is, it accomplishes what He intends. Paul writes: "...those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified,...
Read more

Need of Endurance

There's no space that His love can't reach There's no place where we can't' find peace There's no end to amazing grace Take me in with Your arms spread wide Take me in like an orphan child Never let go, Never leave my side I am,  Holding on to You... In the middle of the storm I am holding on,  I am  Love like this, Oh my God to find I am overwhelmed, With a joy divine Love like this sets our hearts on fire This is my resurrection song This is my hallelujah come This is why it's to You I run. 1 He is holding on to you, through the middle of the storm, the disease, sickness, pain, tears, heartache, desires, and addictions... I Am is holding on to you. Let us exult, dance in our tribulations knowing that in our suffering we partake of His. Knowing also that suffering produces patience and patience produces endurance and endurance produces strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. ...
Read more